A study conducted by the Centre for Policy Studies, a policy research organisation of Delhi, has found out on the reference of the 2011 census that, 7.2 million is the total tribal population of Northeastern states except for Assam, out of which 5.2 million are Converted Tribes. The most disgusting part is the number of Indian administrative service (IAS) officers, who are the domicile of these states. There are 111 IAS officers who are domiciled in these states and working there, out of which 96 belong to the Converted Tribes. It is a well-known fact that IAS officers execute various government policies and are the opinion makers also.
These studies raise reasonable doubts on the effectiveness of the benefits especially in the form of reservations both in education and employment extended to Legit Tribes. Intersectionality as a theory is widely discussed these days across the globe and even in India as well. This particular theory says that you will get a higher ranking on the value of your opinions and on receiving benefits, both from society and the government, based on the number of “oppressed” or marginalised groups that you belong to. A Converted Tribal gets more benefits than a Legit Tribal because they rank higher in the societal priority list because they belong to two marginalised groups.
When addressing Tribe reservation or constitutional benefit it is important to discuss Critical Faction Beneficial Syndrome. It is a systematic limitation/loophole in our system, which plays out when a group belonging to a certain tribal community leave their original faith to profess a different religion, will become more “oppressed” and enjoy more benefits than the members of the Original Tribal community. The converted group become members of multiple beneficial groups. This phenomenon is the basic reason to reflect in education and employment of the Converted Tribes in Northeastern states.
The Tribes in northeastern states originally believe either in Animistic, shamanic or Donyi-polo, and they are considered as the original and legit tribes. When they profess any other religion such as Cristian or Islam, they get the additional privilege of minority status as well. That means a Converted Tribe gets a double benefit as a tribe and as a minority. When we critically evaluate this scenario, the two groups from the same faction are not treated equally. In other words, if a person leaves the original faith of the tribe and converts into another religion, they get better social security than the Original oppressed tribe. Eventually, the converted Tribe claims the lion’s share of privileges assured by our constitution.
This scenario questions the fundamental requirement and aims of the reservations incorporated in the constitution being offered to Scheduled tribes. The Critical Faction Beneficial Syndrome provides multiple privileges to Converted Tribes. They get minority status and get a better education, facilities and livelihood than Legit Tribes. The Converted Tribe compete for employment in the common pool with Legit Tribes, and secure employment opportunities. Continuing this cycle pushes the Legit Tribes into the dark and Converted become rulers and stealers of opportunities more and more, resulting in a bigger gap in Socioeconomic situations of both factions of the same community. A converted brother from the same family enjoys more privilege than the brother who follows original faith creating crucial socio, economic and cultural issues in the society. The Critical Faction Beneficial Syndrome is cancer that is spreading in our society. It is the rust and rot that is eating away on our ladder of progression as a Nation. Rather than uplifting Scheduled Tribes to the mainstream, this propensity will plunge them deeper into the darkness of society.
The relevance of the repeated request for delisting of Converted tribes from the tribal category is becoming higher once again. To protect the deprived Legit Tribes from the exploitation of Converted Tribes and their Lobby to be protected by constitutional remedies, the most suitable move is amending Article 342 with a clarifying definition of Tribe. Without incorporating a suitable provision in the constitution even our legal system is also helpless and becomes Dhritarashtra’s Court.
Article by Adv Shine P Sasidhar
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